Protecting Your Heart

Understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy heart and taking steps to lower your risk of heart disease is crucial for a long and fulfilling life.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for both men and women worldwide, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of heart disease today. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, obesity and an unhealthy diet may often result in heart diseases. Over time, these factors damage blood vessels and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

It is never too late to start changing your lifestyle towards having a healthier a heart. Here are some tips to lower your risk of heart diseases:

• Get enough sleep
  Lack of sufficient sleep and poor-quality sleep can increase your risk of having high blood pressure, heart diseases and other medical conditions. You should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep at night and try to avoid caffeine or nicotine before going to bed.
   
• Be more physically active
  Taking the stairs instead of the lift and walking around your house are some ways you can be a little more active. Physical activity has been shown to lower your risk of heart disease. If you don’t have a lot of time to work out, try for at least 10 minutes at a time.
   
• Improve your diet
  A balanced diet can help lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels. Avoid food products that are high in sodium, saturated fats and added sugar. Consider eating more fresh fruits and vegetables or low-fat yoghurt as snacks instead.
   
• Maintain a healthy weight
  Excess weight can lead to the buildup of fatty materials in your arteries. If the arteries that carry blood to your heart get damaged and clogged, you might get a heart attack. Avoid high-calorie or sugary snacks, instead choose healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables or nuts.
   
• Manage your cholesterol levels
  A high level of cholesterol is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. The body houses two types of cholesterol, the ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) and the ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL). You should choose a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats as these can raise the LDL cholesterol levels in your body. Drinking too much alcohol can also raise your total alcohol level.

Early Detection of Heart Disease

A cardiac screening may be used to identify your risk of developing heart disease.

It includes blood tests to measure your blood glucose level, lipid profile and lipoprotein(a), a treadmill exercise test to assess your exercise capacity, blood pressure response and evidence of inducible ischaemia. A coronary calcium score is used to detect subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and allows healthcare professionals to initiate early drug therapy which reduces future cardiovascular events.
 

Importance of Cardiac Screening for Your Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)is often known as a silent killer, and conditions such as heart attack or stroke tend to strike when one least expects it. Cardiologist Dr. Pinakin V Parekh shares effective steps you can take to keep it at bay.

Read the story
 

Understanding Heart Health: Your Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Support

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. Located in the chest on the left, the heart pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients.

A healthy heart is essential to good health. In fact, a healthy human heart beats about 100,000 times a day, with an average adult’s heart beating about 60 to 80 times per minute.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a term that houses all conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Empowering Yourself with Knowledge

This resource provides information about heart health, including:

• Importance of Heart Health: Understand the importance of maintaining your heart health.
• Common Heart Disease: Learn about the different types of common heart diseases and their characteristics.
• Key Risk Factors: Explore various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that may leave you susceptible to heart disease.
• Ways to Improve Heart Health: Learn about lifestyle factors and preventive measures to minimize your risk of heart disease.

What is Heart Health?

Heart health is the overall well-being of your cardiovascular system, which consists of your heart and blood vessels. It encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and management of conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system, collectively known as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A healthy heart functions to efficiently pump blood throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your organs and tissues. It is important to maintain good heart health for your overall well-being and longevity.

Importance of Heart Health

• CVDs are a leading cause of death globally, making heart health crucial for overall health.
• Poor heart health can lead to various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

What Causes Heart Disease?

Heart disease is caused by a complex interplay of factors, including:

• Non-Modifiable Factors: Age, gender, ethnicity, family history, and inherited genetic mutations.
• Modifiable Factors:
  • Lifestyle: Diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
  • Health: Pre-existing conditions (i.e., diabetes), obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol

Symptoms of Heart

Disease Heart disease symptoms vary depending on the type of heart disease. However, some general signs and symptoms include:

• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or light-headedness

Important Note: These symptoms may also be indicative of other health conditions. Speak to our Specialists today for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.

Common Heart Diseases in Singapore

• Coronary Artery Disease is the most common heart disease and happens due to blockages in your coronary arteries.
• Heart Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats, which can be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular.
• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can lead to serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
• Congenital Heart Disease are heart defects present at birth due to abnormal heart development during pregnancy.
• Heart Failure occurs when the heart muscle is weakened or damaged and can't pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs.

Improving Heart Health

Here are some helpful ways to improve your heart health: